moscow saint basils building

Moscow Holidays

Flights + Hotel

Moscow: where history is made

Book a holiday to Moscow to lose yourself in this captivating, iconic and enigmatic European capital. Set foot in historic streets, surrounded by baroque churches and monuments dedicated to Russia's engaging past.

From the famous cobblestones of Red Square, you'll see many of Russia’s defining landmarks. There’s the symbolic St Basil’s Cathedral, with its colourful onion domes, and the fortified Kremlin that shaped the history of both Tsars and modern-day politicians. 

Russia’s capital is more than its history though. Modern day Moscow has a vibrant, up-and-coming food scene and a varied nightlife. You can relax with locals in Gorky Park, enjoy a delicious meal in spectacular restaurants and take in a show at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre. Book a holiday to Moscow with Etihad and discover this exciting city. 

moscow aerial view at sunset

Things to do in Moscow

From shopping to museums, fine dining to Russian history, holiday packages in Moscow offer everything you could expect from one of Europe’s most iconic capital cities. 

moscow kremlin at twilight

Explore Moscow’s museums and galleries

The city is steeped in history and the Kremlin is the city’s must-see highlight, housing thousands of treasures, including royal armour and weapons. For an insight into the city’s notorious Cold War history, visit Bunker 42 – an underground bunker built to withstand a nuclear attack.

Art lovers will be enamoured by the State Tretyakov Gallery – full of Russian art from the pre-Soviet era.

Additionally, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts is home to pieces from across Europe, packed with antiquities, casts and ancient sculptures.

Where to stay in Moscow

Tverskoy

For the definitive Moscow experience, stay in Tverskoy – the city’s central district and the home of Red Square. In the Kitay-gorod area to the south of Tverskoy, you’ll find the city’s oldest buildings dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. At the StandArt Hotel Moscow, each room is individually decorated, and there’s even an art gallery on site.

moscow red square sunset
moscow arbat street day time

Arbat

As well as great shopping opportunities and pavement cafes on Arbat Street, there’s a busy nightlife and some fantastic restaurants. This is one of the coolest parts of the city and a popular night-out destination for young Muscovites. Stay at the AZIMUT Hotel Smolenskaya Moscow and enjoy views of Moscow’s skyline. 

Yakimanka

Just south of the Moskva River is Yakimanka. This is a great option if you’re looking for a city centre area close to the major sites. Relax in the nearby Gorky Park and explore the art in the State Tretyakov Gallery.

The striking Hotel Baltschug Kempinski is fantastic for Moscow honeymoons, with spacious rooms and suites – some including river views.

moscow moskva river cityscape
moscow river and bridge morning

All you need to know about Moscow

Local currency

The local currency in Russia is the rouble (RUB). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and you’ll find ATMs across the city for cash withdrawals.

Getting around

Moscow’s highly efficient metro system is the best way to get around the city. Many of its stations are beautifully designed and are destinations in themselves.

Languages

Russian is the official language in Moscow, but there are also around 100 minority languages spoken. Around 10 per cent of the population speaks English.

Public holidays

In Russia, New Year is celebrated for a full week from the first day of the new year until 8 January. This extended holiday includes Orthodox Christmas Day on 7 January.

More about Moscow

Local cuisine

Moscow’s newest restaurants turn out cutting-edge international dishes, while the city still celebrates traditional flavours. Although it shares much with eastern Europe, Russian food is also highly influenced by Asia and the Middle East. 

Dishes to try on your holiday to Moscow include borscht. This is a colourful beetroot soup that often includes meat, vegetables and a generous dollop of sour cream. Blinis are a fabulous and often celebratory food – small pancakes served with everything from jam to meat, cheese and kebabs. Look out for shashlyk kebabs too, Russia's version of Turkish shish kebabs.

moscvow summer cafe and tables
moscow tradtional babushka dolls

Cultural attractions

Art is everywhere in Moscow, from the city's many impressive galleries to the colourful onion domes of its churches and metro stations. 

Many of the greatest Russian novels, including Tolstoy’s War and Peace, are set in the city, so take an organised literature tour to see some of the featured sights. You can also visit the apartments where literary legends such as Chekhov and Dostoevsky lived. 

If you book your Moscow holiday package between mid-December to mid-January, you’ll be in the city for the annual Winter Festival. The whole city is decked in fairy-lights and you can wander through pop-up markets and enjoy street performances.

History and heritage

Moscow was founded around the time of the 12th century. The modern city began to take shape during the 15th and 16th centuries, when St Basil’s Cathedral was built. In 1917, the October Revolution brought communism to Russia and Moscow soon became the centre of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), until its dissolution in 1992.

The State Historical Museum between Red Square and Manege Square has various exhibits from prehistoric to modern day Moscow. The Kremlin houses many different museums – in the Armoury Chamber you’ll find treasures ranging from the 4th to the 20th-century, including Fabergé eggs, crowns and carriages.

moscow catherdral in the morning
moscow river and cityscape

Why we love Moscow

“Explore Moscow for its fascinating history and culture. Spend some time wandering through the shops on Arbat Street and people watching in the cafes. Try to time your visit with tickets to the Bolshoi, a must for fans of Russian culture.”

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